Heat is removed through air conditioning using a process called refrigeration. Air conditioning systems employ a cycle of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion of a refrigerant to transfer heat from the indoor environment to the outdoors.
Here is a simplified explanation of how heat is removed through air conditioning:
Evaporation: The refrigerant, typically a chemical compound with a low boiling point, circulates through the system. It passes through an evaporator coil located inside the indoor unit. Warm indoor air is blown over the evaporator coil, and the refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air, causing it to evaporate and transform into a low-pressure gas.
Compression: The low-pressure gas refrigerant is then compressed by a compressor located in the outdoor unit. Compression increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant.
Condensation: The high-pressure, high-temperature gas refrigerant is pumped to the condenser coil located in the outdoor unit. Outdoor air or a separate fan blows over the condenser coil, dissipating heat from the refrigerant. As a result, the refrigerant condenses into a high-pressure liquid.
Expansion: The high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve or an orifice, which reduces its pressure. As the pressure drops, the refrigerant's temperature also decreases.
Repeat Cycle: The cycle continues as the cool, low-pressure liquid refrigerant returns to the evaporator coil inside the indoor unit, and the process starts again.
By continually circulating the refrigerant through this cycle, an air conditioning system effectively removes heat from the indoor environment and releases it outdoors. The warm air inside the room is cooled as it passes over the cold evaporator coil, while the absorbed heat is carried away by the refrigerant and expelled through the condenser coil.
It's important to note that air conditioning systems do not create cold air. Instead, they extract heat from the indoor air, leaving behind cooler air. The process is based on the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer, allowing for effective cooling of the indoor space.